Qbic London City
A contrast to the superexpensive business hotels that proliferate in this part of the East End on the edge of The City, the Qbic is a modern and surprisingly affordable option in a trendy corner of town. Sleek and cheerful public spaces have a self-consciously irreverent edge, with wry "thoughts for the day" placed around the hotel by staff. Mismatched pieces of furniture have been recycled from industrial materials, and guest rooms are decorated in bold, outlandish color schemes. What could easily get stale stays nicely to the side of playfulness and quirky cool, especially since the vibrancy of Brick Lane is just around the corner.